Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II had a zip when throwing the ball on Saturday afternoon that his head coach wishes he had when he was playing.

“I can’t make them or couldn’t make them. I would still be playing if I could do what he can do,” said Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury, after his team’s controlled scrimmage.

It’s easy to see why Kingsbury feels good about his starting quarterback and the junior to be as Mahomes led the Red Raiders on four scoring drives in front of an estimated 6,000 fans on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Grande Communications Stadium.

“I just tried to be efficient, tried not to take too many sacks,” said Mahomes, who threw for more than 4,500 yards, rushed for 456 more and accounted for 46 total touchdowns last season. “I think I took one sack but I think we scored on four drives, so it was pretty efficient. They always try to sack me but I’m not an easy to sack kinda guy.”

Considering that it was a touch sack and defenders are not allowed to hit the quarterbacks, it’s not certain it would have been a sack anyway in a real game, as Mahomes’ scrambling ability can give any defense fits.

This spring, Mahomes also has turned his sole attention to football and he decided not to play with the Red Raider baseball team. Kingsbury said there has been a noticeable difference in Mahomes.

“His improvement by not playing baseball and focusing on football has been incredible,” Kingsbury said. “It’s scary to see what he’s going to do this next year, but I’m excited to watch him. He’s been phenomenal this spring.”

Mahomes also has a hunger to succeed and get even better.

“We want to be the best offense in the country,” he said. “Last year we were number two and that’s not acceptable, we want to be the best one. At the same time that will lead us to a Big 12 championship.”

He added that he’s also embraced the leadership role.

I’ve tried to become more vocal,” Mahomes said. “Last year I kind of led by example but a lot of those leaders from last year’s team are gone and I’ve had to step up and kind of speak up and keep the energy going throughout practice and this spring.”

Mahomes wasn’t the only one to stand out on offense as running back Justin Stockton and wide receiver Cameron Batson made several plays.

Stockton scored two TDs, including a crowd-pleasing 34-yard run, and continued to show the explosive capability he has every time he touches the ball.

“He’s been great ever since he stepped on campus,” Kingsbury said. “I’ve been telling everybody that if it weren’t for (two-year starter and back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher DeAndre Washington) everybody would be talking about Justin Stockton already, and they will be this fall. He’s as explosive of a back as I’ve coached and he’s gaining a lot of confidence, so I expect him to have a great season.”

Meanwhile, Batson appears to be one of Mahomes’ top targets with five catches and a 25-yard TD reception.

“He had a big day,” said Mahomes of junior wide receiver. “He’s been showing up this spring and he’s really taking his game to the next level.”

While there were the highlights, Kinsgbury also lamented the fact that the team had a few too many penalties and turned the ball over twice.

“We had some guys in there that weren’t focused, but a lot of positives,” Kingsbury said. “We don’t want the penalties and we had two turnovers, so obviously we have to clean that up.”

The Red Raiders will continue with their spring practices up until April 16 when they have their annual spring game at Lubbock’s Jones AT&T Stadium.